Qatar has invested QR4 billion ($1.09 billion) on a plant to treat solid domestic waste, which can also produce 50 mega watt (MW) of clean energy, a report said.

The Domestic Solid Waste Management Centre (DSWMC) supplies the state grid with 42MW of electricity, while the balance 8MW is consumed in running the facility, reported The Peninsula.

Qatar has earmarked QR2 billion for running the centre for 20 years, while another QR2 billion has been spent on the design and establishment of DSWMC, the report said.

“At least 95 per cent of domestic waste is recycled here to produce power, solid and liquid organic fertilizers and only five percent goes for landfill in the form of ash,” Safar Mubarak Al Shafi, director of DSWMC was quoted as saying.

“Ash goes to landfill after being drained of impurities to ensure it does not affect the underground water and environment,” Al Shafi added.